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THE ARIZONA REPUBLICAN AN INDEPENDENT PROGRESSIVE JOURNAL TWENTY-EIGHTH YEAR . 12 PAGES PHOENIX, ARIZONA, SATURDAY MORNING, JANUARY 5, 1918 12 PAGES 1 VOL. XXVI 1 1., NO. 228 S TO- GOVERN R A1LW AY OPERATION URGES. LAW IS WATER POWER TO BE SAVED Republican A. P. Leased Wire WASHINGTON", Jan. 4 President Wilson laid before a conference of bouse leaders tonight the draft of a bill designed to establish a. definite lrglslative policy to develop the nations water power, 85,000.000 horse power of which is estimated by government engineers to he wasted annually. The result of the conference was a plan to create a special committee of the house to take over all jurisdiction of -water power problems now dealt with by various committees and to pass the president's bill promptly in the house and Fend it to the senate with the administrations support be hind it. The president told the conference of his interest in water power legislation and urgent hope that both houses would speedily enact the new measure. drawn bv the interior, war and agri cultural departments. lie said the bil was designed to reconcile divergent views which have interfrrred with nec efsarv legislation. The bill follows closely the provi sions of tho Ferris bill which has twice passed the house but failed through opposition in the senate. I'articipants in the conference expressed the view that with unified house support and with the stamp of the president's ap proval favorable action in the senate now was to be expected. The president submitted to the con ferees a report signed by Secretaries Jjine, Baker and Houston which closed with this statement: "We believe that some such legisla tion as is here proposed, it enacted would mean the early development of considerable portion of our water power resources with a resultant sav ing in fuel and a considerable lessening of the present demand on our trans portationn facilities caused by the mov ing of coiil ami other heavy fuels. The, bill provides for a commission to be composed of the secretaries of war, interior and agriculture. It pro poseo to lease the water power priv ilcgps on public, lands, Indian lands, national forests and in navigable streams for not exceeding fifty years, when the project may be taken over by the United States, again leased to the original lessee or leased to a new lessee. All property owned and held by the licensee at the expiration of the lease, valuable aad serviceable in the development or distribution of power, together with any locks or other aids to navigation constructed by the leasee. may be taken over by the government upon the payment of the fair value, not to exceed the actual cost of the property taken, plus such reasonable damages, s may be caused by the separation cf the property from valuable property not taken. Provision is made for regulation by the federal water power commission of interstate and power in any state where no state regulations is to be had. It requires lessee' to pay reasonable annual charges of not less than ten cents per water power horse power per annum. All receipts from these water power licenses are to be placed in the federal treasury. The bill provides that fifty per cent of the proceeds from national forests shall be expended in construction of roads in those forests; fifty per cent of the receipts from public lands are to bo placed in the reclamation fund; fifty per cent of receipts from navigable streams to be expended in the maintenance and operation of dams and other navigation structures of the United States and that all proceeds from Indian reservations shall be placed to the credit of the Indians. The bill embraces features of both the Ferris bill in the house, and the Shields bill, in the senate. Those attending the White House conference were Kepresentaives Ferris, Oklahoma, chairman; and Baker, Hayden, Lenrott and La Follette of the public lands committee; Representatives Sims, chairman, and Montague, I'jich, Doremus, Hamilton and Parker .f the interestate commerce committee. Itepresentatives I'ou, chairman and iarret and Foster of the rules committee and Representatives Lever, chairman, and Haugen and Anderson f the agricultural committee. The president asked Tnat the house rules committee report to the house a upecial rule creating a special committee on water power, with a view to supplying its membership from the regular committees now claiming juris diction. Chairman Pou of the rules committee, thought the plan feasible, although rather unusual. It was then suggested the committee be created by a, special rule, each ot the regular com mittee members to be taken from their personnel and" the speaker appointipg them on the new body. This plan was cirtually agreed upon. JIT AFTER LONG ILLNESS Republican A. P. Leased Wire FASADENA, Cal., Jan. 4. Melville E. Stone, Jr., son of the general man ager of the Associated Press, died here today. Mr. Stone had been seriously 111 since Sunday. He had been in poor health for some time, during which he lived at Altadena, a suburb, with his mother and sister, Miss Elizabeth Stone. Mrs. Stone was with him at the time of his death. Miss Stone left New York Tuesday and will arrive here to morrow. No funeral arrangements will be made until her arrival. Mr. Stone was born November 7 1874. at Chicago. He was a graduate of Harvard university and was associated with his brother. Herbert Stone, In the publication of the Chap Book, and the House Beautiful. At one time Mr. Stone was managing editor of the .Metropolitan magazine. He had written MELVLLESTONE many short stones. Two Billion Dollars For Ship Building Is Plan Of The Shipping Board SIX SOLDIERS KILLED IN TRAIN CRASH MONTREAL, Jan. 4 Six soldiers are known to have been killed, one missing and thirty other persons were injured in a rear-end collision on the Canadian Pacific railway near Dorval station tonight. A local train bound from Montreal to Pointe Fortune, said to have been traveling at a high rate of speed, crashed into a train carrying 230 soldiers just as the latter was turning into a switch. The military train was bound for Vancouver. n WAR IN BRIEF Republican A. P. Leased Wire Although the conference between representatives of the Bolsheviki government and the central powers was . due to reconvene Friday, no news lias come through indicating whether the meeting took place. Neither has there been any advices as to whether the difficulties in the way of reaching an agreement have beet: surmounted or if concessions by either side making possible further negotiations, are intended. Dissatisfaction with the proposals of the central, powers apparently docs not obtain solely on the side of the Bolsheviki government, but exists among the delegates of the central powers as well. Austria. Bulgaria and Turkey are asserted to have disagreed, the domineering attitude of the Germans at the Brest-Litovsk conference, where they poacd as conquerors, while their allied delegates evinced an eager desire for peace and a disposition to compromise. The attitude of the German socialists against the demands of th cei.irai powers, especially those pro viding ior tne retention of Poland Lithuania, Courtland and other occupied territory, has forced the im- penal chancellor to refer to. the situation before the main commit tee or the reichstag. The chancel lors statement, however, was merely a platitude and gave no inkling as to wnat Oermanys future inten uons in the premises were, and e en icit to the under secretary tor foreign affairs the task of out lining in tho most perfunctory style the trend of the negotiations up to the time that the recess was iah-en at Jrfrest-I.itovsk. "We can cheerfully await the fur- tner course, of this incident. We relv upon our strong position, . our loyal ul" -"i.nuia hiiu our just rignts, was virtually all the chancellor had to say concerning Russia s rejection of me peace proposals. On the. battle, fronts the compara tive calm of the last few da-n con tinues. although the Germans in the Cambrai sector, in local attacks, have uusuea oack rour British advanced posts for short ' distances. The ar- uiiery aueis along the western front in Belgium and France and also in Italy still are going on, but the iniantry is virtually idle, except for puioi engagements. Again- there has been considerable fighting in the air on the western ironc. i ne uerman war office as serts that the German aviators dur nig me week nave accounted for twenty-three allied airplanes and two captive balloons. French avi ators nave brought down' eight Ger. man machines also carried out bomb- " opeinuons oenina the enemy line. ine American army in France is to be reinforced by the American aviators, who became famous a pilots in .trench escadrilles. Thirty two men', mostly members of the Lafayette escadrille, will be the first to be sworn into the American army. otners will join them as rapidly a possioie. ine transfer or the avi ators from the French to the Ameri can colors was brought about through negotiations between the French and American authorities. Good Morning HAVE YOU MAILED THAT $5.75? Offer Closes Today! $5 Hp The Arizona Re J publican for One YearDaily and Sunday Seven Days a Week The Republican is the only newspaper in Arizona publishing seven days in the week 62 issues mora than any other paper in the state. You are entitled to the best. Mail that $5.75 to the Republican today offer good only once each year. Seventh Annual Bargain Closes Tonight Republican A. P. Leased Wire WASHINGTON. Jan. 4. Plans for a two billion dollar government shipbuilding program were revealed today when the shipping board asked congress for authority to place $701,000,000 worth of additional ship contracts At the same time an immediate appropriation of $32,000,000 was asked for the extension of ship yards and for providing housing facilities for workmen. Thus far the board has been authorized to spend for shipbuilding $1,234,000,000. contracts for most of which have been awarded Today's request for a further authorization and addition appropriation brings the estimates of funds needed for shipbuilding to $2,018,000,000. If the additional funds are made available, they will be put largely into fabricated steel ship contracts, although some contracts for ordi-. nary steel ships will be let as will a few for wooden ships on the Pacific coast. No new shipyards are planned by the board. The fabricating yards have contracts for about 500 ships now, which will keep them constantly employed into 1919, but the board is anxious to place more contracts and begin on the task of providing materials The board's housing plans call for the expenditure of about $35,-000,000. The remainder of the $82,-000,000 asked will be used to expand shipyards already built. The senate commerce committee in vestigating the progress of shipbuilding, took up today alleged high profits allowed in lettrng contracts, wooden ship construction, and the subject of housing. Questioning of Theodore K. t orris, chief constvuetor for the emergency fleet corporation, in connection with a report by the corporation's district officer at Seattle, brought out that the Clinchfield Navigation company of New York, was alleged to have obtained profits amounting to $743,000 on ship contracts when in fact the company was not an actual builder of ships. The company, it was testified, sold to the government at a profit of $420,000, four ships which the Sloan Shipbuilding Corporation of Seattle, waa building for it, and that it .unjcived commission of $323,000 on contracts it obtained from the fleet corporation for twelve ships which the Sloan Corporation now is building Mr. Ferns denied that he bad any thing to do with the contracts but said he introduced officers of the Clinch-field company' to Major General George W. Goethals, formerly- general man ager of the fleet corporation. Conditions affecting the construction of wooden ships are outlined by F. A. Brown, general purchasing officer tor the fleet corporation and F. L. Sanford, a member of the Southern Pine Emer gency bureau. Mr. Brown explained the fleet corporation's granting of an increase in lumber prices and said he thought it was fully justified in view of the fact that timber sizes were made larger. He said the sizes were made so large that pine producers could not make deliveries, but that the corporation expected to have delivered from Oregon within sixty days enough fir to furnish the heavier timbers for 200 wooden ships. Delays in pine deliveries were attributed by Mr. Brown to some extent to the fact that builders, anxious to draw on the fleet corporation's advance funds, laid down too many keels Instead of going ahead with the construction of ships already laid down. Their contracts he said, called for the pavment of money advances when keels were laid and many builders took advantage of this to get money quick ly. The fleet corporation, he said, finally was forced to put a stop to the laving of keels. Mr. Sanford contradicted the testi mony of Rear Admiral Bowles of the fleet corporation, who declared that pine producers had fallen down on de liveries. Believe Tucson Murderer Taken In Los Angeles Republican A. P. Leased Wire LOS ANGELES, Cal., Jan. 4. Barney Schiller was arrested in the harbor district here today on telegraphic instructions from Tucsin, Ariz., which stated, according to the police, that he was wanted in connection with a slaying that occurred there December 23 last. Last Man Wanted TUCSON, Jan. 4. Barney alias Blackie Schiller is wanted here by the police for alleged connection with the murder nearly two weeks ago of Charles Loeb, proprietor of a pleasure resort on the outskirts of this city. Robbery is believed to have been the motive. The arrest of Schiller brings into custody the last man wanted for the crime. Butch Sundeen, Joe Pruitt, a chauffeur, and Art Nelson, a policeman, being already in custody. Schiller had been sought all over the southwest. o OVERCOAT SHORTAGE IS ENDED Republican A. P. Leased Wire WASHINGTON, Jan. 4. Overcoat shortages at national guard and national army training camps were reported ended except at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana, by Secretary Baker in a further response today to the senate military committee's resolution urging immediate steps to provide the soldiers with adequate winter clothing. Many of the camps are still short of blouses, which the secretary said were particularly hard to obtain. The report was based upon the war department's latest telegraphic advices from the division commanders. Lmerg ency express shipments and local pur chases have been authorized, and Mr. Baker expressed the belief that by to day "all the men are comfortable." Of a total shortage of 11,500 over coats. Camp Beauregard needed 10,862 A deficiency of about 6S.000 blouses was scattered amonjr thirteen posts, Camp Kearney, Cal., needing 13,80!t. JiJame ior delay in furnishing win ter garments was placed by the secre tary partially upon supply, but largely upon tho transportation situation. Shortages shown in the report included:, Cam;v Jiearney, t'al over coats, none; blouses. 13.S09; Camp Bowie, Texas, overcoats, none; blouses, 3.725; Camp Doniphan , Oklahoma, overcoats, 2; blouses, none; Camp runston, Kansas, overcoats, none; mouses, ;i.600. Bedding supplies were said to be adequate at all camps. 10 meet the overcoat shortage at Camp Beauregard, Secretary Baker said 22,300 had been expressed Decern ber 26. He told also of a recent shipment of 10,000 blouses to Camp Funs- ton. "Instructions have been sent to all to obtain locally and immediately said the report, "jjiy uniform garment which is short, in order to give each man one whole uniform: to use sizes on hand to exchange with other camps if practicable, and to employ garment makers to alter garments so as to fit those without necessary uniforms. Minor shortages of breeches and underwear at some camps were re ported and with the information that camp commanders have been author ized to secure garments from local markets. The shortage of blouses at Camp Kearney was said not to be serious, because of mild climate. Secretary Baker's report reached the committee at the close of another day's investigation of the army clothing situation, marked by introduction of bills in both senate and house for es tablishment of a new department of munitions with a cabinet head to cen tralize all government war supply op erations. , Woolen manufacturers and Colonel timer Lindsley, inspector and pur cnasmg nead or tne quartermaster' depot at Philadelphia gave testimony criticizing the quality of army clothing made under the new specifications of the supplies committee of the council of national defense providing for use of shoddy. They agreed that stand ards were lowered and garments and blankets of less durability and warmth produced. A bill introduced today by Senator McKellar of Tennessee, as a result of the committee's investigation of the system of army supply purchasing, would abolish the advisory committees of the council of national defense and prohibit civilians from serving the government under the existing practice of $1 a year. The bill would amend the law creating the council and permit the president to appoint one advisory commission of seven members to serve without compensation. o 1 "Victory Bun" Is Invention Of Baker Of Miami, Arizona - Republican A. P. Leased Wire SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 4. The "victory bun" which is made without sugar, requires but a small percentage of vegetable oil and which can be sold by bakers at a profit of one cent each, is the latest medium for conserving food to receive the consideration of the federal food commissioner for California. The inventor of the "victory bun" is William E. Doty, a baker of Miami, Ariz., who conducted his "victory bun' experiments under the auspices of the Raisin Growers' association of this state. The "victory bun," according to the formula submitted by Doty to the food commissioners' office is as follows: Two pounds of water, one ounce of salt, two pounds of wheat flour, 12 ounces of rye flour, four ounces of rice flour, two and one-half ounces of yeast, one and one-half pounds of seeded raisins, one ounce of vegetable oil and one half teaspoon of cinnamon. This recipe, according to Doty, will make sixty buns, the natural sugar of the raisins furnishing the desired awtTAS. - PRESIDENT ASKS CONGRESS TO CLEAR WAY FOR FEDERAL OPERATION OF RAILROADS THE BILL The railroad bill is entitled "A bill to provide for operation of transportation systems while under federal control for the just compensation of their owners and for other purposes." Section one provides that the president is authorized- to agree with and guarantee to the roads that during the federal control they shall receive as compensation an income at an annual rate equivalent as nearly as may. be to provides that the net railway operating June 30. 1917. This the bill officially calls the standard return. This section provides that the net railway operatink ncome is to be computed from returns to the interstate commerce commis- ion, excluding debits and credits, ar riving irom tne accounts which are called in the monthly interstate com merce returns, "leased road rents and miscellaneous rents, No federal taxes in excess of taxes assessed during the year ending June 30, 1517, are to be charged against the revenue in computing the standard re turns. Any net railway operating income in excess of the standard returns s to be the property of the United States. The amount of the standard return accruing miring the three year period is to be determined by the inter state commerce commission, whose certificate as to the amount is to be taken as final and conclusive for the purpose of the agreement and guar anty. During the federal control "an adequate depreciation and mainten ance of the properties of the roads would be included as a part of the operating expenses or provided through a reserve funds, in accordance with principles and rules which the presi dent will determine. Section two provides that if no such agreement is made with a road, the presiuent may nevertheless pay- or cause to be paid to any railroad while under federal control not exceeding ninety per cent of the standard return. Under this section the legal richta of the railroad for prosecution of its claim. ior ine Daiance Detore the court of claims is provided for, and any amount found due above the amount that has been paid will bear interest at six per cent a year and any excess amount paid by the government will be recov crable by the government with six per cent interest Section three- provides that anv claim ior just compensation which is not ad justed under the terms provided in see tlon one will be submitted to a board of three auditors appointed by the inter state commerce commission whose members and official force will be rli gible for that service without any addi tionai compensation. These auditors will give a full hearing to the road and to the government and will report to uie presiuenftne amount duo the road, A sum not exceeding the amount so reported may be agreed upon by the pigment and tl road. Failing this agreement, either the federal govern ment or tne road may file a petition in tne court or claims for final ascertain ment of the amount' of just compensa tion and in the court of claims m-o ceedings the report of the auditors will be considered prima facie evidence of the fact stated. The lust compensa tion of any federal controlled road not making returns to the I. C. C. will be determined in accordance with these provisions. Section four provides that the return (Continued on Page Two) Republican A. P. Leased Wire WASHINGTON, Jan. 4. Further proof of the sweeping character of the powers vested in the commanders in chief of the American naval and military forces in Europe has been disclosed in connection with the return to this country for duty of Rear Admiral William B. Fletcher, former head of the naval department in French waters, and Major General imam L. Sibert who commanded the first American troops sent to France. Confirmation was given today to reports that Admiral Fletcher had been replaced by Rear Admiral Wilson because Vice Admiral Sims felt that the latter officer was better fitted for the particular duties imposed by the posL Similarly, it is understood although 11 I POWERS DF SWEEPING CHARACTEI) there was no formal announcement!. ;' 1 . NhlvJ; .rtm,t. that the re-tre onlss some gross miscarriage of r-f 0.., . h to General Pershing's conclusion Xhat the arduous task of training a division in France could be performed better by another officer. The fact that Admiral Fletcher's re iiiiii ui UKitpiai uiirei, ,,. turn to await assignment to duty. probably as commandant of an important navy yard, coincided with publication of reports that investigation of the loss of the American army transport Antilles, with 67 lives, fore shadowed a naval shake-up, led to the direct conclusion of these two inci dents. It was explained officially to-Hav however, that the decision to re place Fletcher had been made by Admiral Sims prior to the sinking; of the transport. . The question reviewed by Admiral Pirns in reaching his decision, it is understood, had to do with the use made of the limited number of destroyers or other craft assigned to convoy work. The number has been greatly increased recently. Both the war and navy departments face the necessity of framing a policy to be followed with relation to publication of tho names of officers who m.av be relieved from responsible posts for' the good of the service. The ques- (Republican Associated WASHINGTON. Jan. 4. government's operation of railroads and to guarantee the carriers' compensation on the basis of their overage operating income for the last three years was asked of congress oday by President Wilson in in joint session. Bills , embodying his recommendations and carrying an appropriation of half a billion dollars as a "revolving WAva iwvaAflltA imMO4ntAlir o otaKf tt11 1UUU BW5 UiWUUUbCU I III 1 1 1 lAActb vlj OUU Ml O-tliCUlJJl; Will be made to rush them to prompt passage. wnile tne president s address met with general ap proval among democrats and is expected to develop over a tion bill that federal control indefinitely or until congress details of the compensation Director General McAdoo spent the i day planning a solution of labor ques- I tions with the heads of the four railroad brotherhoods and finally decided to refer the brotherhoods pending de mand for a general wage increase to an advisory board of four members to be anointed by him in a few days. This board will investigate all phases of the brotherhoods' demands, and recommend a course to Mr. McAdoo. His decision will be effective as to wages from Jan- nary 1. The plan will affect immediately only the wage requests of the brotherhoods. but demands which may be made later by other classes of organized labor probably will be handled in the same way, Mr. McAdoo reserving the right to make whatever decision he chooses without regard to recommendations of the advisors. Some Increases, both to the brother hoods and to other railway labor, are generally considered certain. The director general, in a statement tonight. promised every, employe that "his rights and interests will be justly dealt with,'' and appealed for a hearty spirit of enthusiasm and co-operation from every man. Special orders were issued providing that 500 additional cars shall' be fur nished daily to certain specified bitum inous and anthracite mines, mainly in Pennsylvania, fc supplying New England. --. . - These, problems ; forced . Mr. McAdoo to postpone until tomorrow action on eastern passenger, schedules, but he is expected to issue orders then for aban donment of a number of trains and elimination of parlor and sleeping cars to a great extent. r ' ' Mr. McAdoo explained today that al though 'no general provision can 'be made under the law for exempting rail road employes- from, the draft, he-will not hesitate to appeal to local exemp tion boards to defer the calling of these workers if the boards-of their volition do not display a tendency to regard the railroads as an essential industry from which employes should not be taken for military service. - In his address to congress. President W ilson, announcing his action in tak ing over the railroads, praised the way in wnicn railroad executives went to work in an attempt to unify their lines under private management,, but said the war emergency demanded govern ment action because only under gov ernment administration could absolutely unrestricted and unembarrassed common use be made of all lines and facilities. He promised that "the com mon administration would be carried tion is said to be a delicate one be cause the officers involved may hav proved unsatisfactory only for a very special and limited class of duties. In such cases officials feel that it hardly fair to announce that thev have been removed for inefficiency, as it mignt serve to blight their careers. It Is indicated, however, that where there Is direct evidence of culpability there will be no hesitation in publish ing names and such circumstances as military considerations will permit. There is no case before either de partment that warrants such action, is said, so far as officers of any im portant rank are concerned. The decisions of -the commanders abroad on all questions of the sending home of officers under their command justice or misuse of . power is dis justice or misuse of closed. Ice Breaking Tugs Clear The Way For Coal To New York Republican A. P. Leased Wire NEW YORK, Jan. 4. Preceded by powerful railroad tugs acting as ice breakers, a fleet of ocean going barges was on its way to New York from New Jersey tidewater! points tonight with 60,000 tons of coal. It waa expected half this supply would be unloaded before morning. If the barges arrive without mishap they will be just in time to prevent the closing; for lack of fuel of many large office buildings, hotels and apartment houses. Despite concentrated efforts to relieve the situation, the city today experienced its worst distress since the extreme cold weather began a week ago.- The Union Trust company and the New York Life buildings closed today, and lacking; fresh supplies ot fuel. Reeve Schley, county fuel admin Press Leased Wire) Legislation to regulate the an address to both houses republicans alike, opposition provision in the administra shall continue after the wan orders otherwise and over basis. out with as little disturbance of the present operating organization and per sonnel or tne railways as possible. And repeated the assurance given in his proclamation last week that owners of railroad securities should not suffer financial loss because of the new plan of operation. The president's address follows In full: Gentlemen of the congress. "I have asked the nrivilrr nf oH dressing you in order to report that on. the 28th of December last, during tho recess of congress, acting through the secretary of war and under the author ity conierred upon me by the act of congress approved August 29, 1316, I took possession and assumed rontrol of the railway lines of the country and ieins oi water transportation under their control.- This step seemed, to be imperatively necessary in the interest Of : the public welfare, in the yrraence ot tne great tasks of war with which we 'are now dealing. As our experience develops difficulties and -makes 'it clear what they are, I have deemed it my duty to remove those difficulties wherever I have the legal power to do so. To assume contra! of the vast railway systems of the country, I realize is a very heavy responsibility, but to fail to do so in the existing' ciroums"tances would have been, a much greater. I assumed the less responsibility rather than the weightier. 1 am-sure that I am speaking the. mind of all thoughtful Americans when I say that it is our duty as the representatives of the nation to do everything that, it is necessarv to da to 'securle their complete mobilization ot tne wnoie resources of America by as rapid and effective a means as can oe iouno. .transportation supplies all the arteries of mobilization. Unless it be under a single and unified direction. me noie process oi tne nation s action is embarrassed. ."It was in the true snirit of AmenVa and it was right that we should first try to effect the necessary unification under the voluntary action of those who were in charge of the great railway properties, and we did try it The directors of the railroads responded to ine need promptly and generously. The group of railway executives who were charged with the task of actual coordination and general direction performed their task with patriotic zeal and marked ability, as was to have been expected and did, I believe, everything that it was possible for them to do in the circumstances. If I nave taken the task out of their hands, it has not been because of anv din.. lection or failure on their part, but only because there were some things which the government can do and tho present management can not. We hhall continue to value most highly the advice and assistance of these gentlemen and I am sure we will not figure them witnnoioing it. "It has become unmistakablv plain that only under government adminis tration can the entire, equipment oj the several sjstcms of transportation be fully and unreservedly thrown into common service without injurious dis. crimination against particular properties. Only under -government administration can an absolute restricted and unembarrassed common use be made of all tracks, terminals, terminal facilities and equipment of every kind. Only under that authority can new terminals be constructed and developed .without regard to the requirements of limitations of particular roads. But under government administration all these things will be possible not instantly, but as fast as practical difficulties, which cannot be merely conjured away, give way before the new management. The common administration will be carried out with as little disturbance of the present operating organizations and personnel of the railways as pos. sible. Nothing will be altered or dis- (Continued on Paee Two) Istrator, said the Western Union, the Empire, the Stewart. New York Sun and Adams Express buildings would close tomorrow. Use of the Pennsylvania tunnel under the Hudson river to hasten coal into the city has aided somewhat in relieving districts in Brooklyn and Long Island, but has not accomplished as much as was expected. Albert H. Wiggin, state fuel administrator, announced tljat the Washington authorities had ordered the New Jersey fuel administrators to lift the embargo placed on ferry buat transportation of coal, but it had not been done at 6 p. m. It was said a misunderstanding of a telegraphic, order frpm Washington, the meaning of which was not clear to the New Jersey officials, had brought a?out the inter - 1 ference with New York coal,,

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THE ARIZONA REPUBLICAN AN INDEPENDENT PROGRESSIVE JOURNAL TWENTY-EIGHTH YEAR . 12 PAGES PHOENIX, ARIZONA, SATURDAY MORNING, JANUARY 5, 1918 12 PAGES 1 VOL. XXVI 1 1., NO. 228 S TO- GOVERN R A1LW AY OPERATION URGES. LAW IS WATER POWER TO BE SAVED Republican A. P. Leased Wire WASHINGTON", Jan. 4 President Wilson laid before a conference of bouse leaders tonight the draft of a bill designed to establish a. definite lrglslative policy to develop the nations water power, 85,000.000 horse power of which is estimated by government engineers to he wasted annually. The result of the conference was a plan to create a special committee of the house to take over all jurisdiction of -water power problems now dealt with by various committees and to pass the president's bill promptly in the house and Fend it to the senate with the administrations support be hind it. The president told the conference of his interest in water power legislation and urgent hope that both houses would speedily enact the new measure. drawn bv the interior, war and agri cultural departments. lie said the bil was designed to reconcile divergent views which have interfrrred with nec efsarv legislation. The bill follows closely the provi sions of tho Ferris bill which has twice passed the house but failed through opposition in the senate. I'articipants in the conference expressed the view that with unified house support and with the stamp of the president's ap proval favorable action in the senate now was to be expected. The president submitted to the con ferees a report signed by Secretaries Jjine, Baker and Houston which closed with this statement: "We believe that some such legisla tion as is here proposed, it enacted would mean the early development of considerable portion of our water power resources with a resultant sav ing in fuel and a considerable lessening of the present demand on our trans portationn facilities caused by the mov ing of coiil ami other heavy fuels. The, bill provides for a commission to be composed of the secretaries of war, interior and agriculture. It pro poseo to lease the water power priv ilcgps on public, lands, Indian lands, national forests and in navigable streams for not exceeding fifty years, when the project may be taken over by the United States, again leased to the original lessee or leased to a new lessee. All property owned and held by the licensee at the expiration of the lease, valuable aad serviceable in the development or distribution of power, together with any locks or other aids to navigation constructed by the leasee. may be taken over by the government upon the payment of the fair value, not to exceed the actual cost of the property taken, plus such reasonable damages, s may be caused by the separation cf the property from valuable property not taken. Provision is made for regulation by the federal water power commission of interstate and power in any state where no state regulations is to be had. It requires lessee' to pay reasonable annual charges of not less than ten cents per water power horse power per annum. All receipts from these water power licenses are to be placed in the federal treasury. The bill provides that fifty per cent of the proceeds from national forests shall be expended in construction of roads in those forests; fifty per cent of the receipts from public lands are to bo placed in the reclamation fund; fifty per cent of receipts from navigable streams to be expended in the maintenance and operation of dams and other navigation structures of the United States and that all proceeds from Indian reservations shall be placed to the credit of the Indians. The bill embraces features of both the Ferris bill in the house, and the Shields bill, in the senate. Those attending the White House conference were Kepresentaives Ferris, Oklahoma, chairman; and Baker, Hayden, Lenrott and La Follette of the public lands committee; Representatives Sims, chairman, and Montague, I'jich, Doremus, Hamilton and Parker .f the interestate commerce committee. Itepresentatives I'ou, chairman and iarret and Foster of the rules committee and Representatives Lever, chairman, and Haugen and Anderson f the agricultural committee. The president asked Tnat the house rules committee report to the house a upecial rule creating a special committee on water power, with a view to supplying its membership from the regular committees now claiming juris diction. Chairman Pou of the rules committee, thought the plan feasible, although rather unusual. It was then suggested the committee be created by a, special rule, each ot the regular com mittee members to be taken from their personnel and" the speaker appointipg them on the new body. This plan was cirtually agreed upon. JIT AFTER LONG ILLNESS Republican A. P. Leased Wire FASADENA, Cal., Jan. 4. Melville E. Stone, Jr., son of the general man ager of the Associated Press, died here today. Mr. Stone had been seriously 111 since Sunday. He had been in poor health for some time, during which he lived at Altadena, a suburb, with his mother and sister, Miss Elizabeth Stone. Mrs. Stone was with him at the time of his death. Miss Stone left New York Tuesday and will arrive here to morrow. No funeral arrangements will be made until her arrival. Mr. Stone was born November 7 1874. at Chicago. He was a graduate of Harvard university and was associated with his brother. Herbert Stone, In the publication of the Chap Book, and the House Beautiful. At one time Mr. Stone was managing editor of the .Metropolitan magazine. He had written MELVLLESTONE many short stones. Two Billion Dollars For Ship Building Is Plan Of The Shipping Board SIX SOLDIERS KILLED IN TRAIN CRASH MONTREAL, Jan. 4 Six soldiers are known to have been killed, one missing and thirty other persons were injured in a rear-end collision on the Canadian Pacific railway near Dorval station tonight. A local train bound from Montreal to Pointe Fortune, said to have been traveling at a high rate of speed, crashed into a train carrying 230 soldiers just as the latter was turning into a switch. The military train was bound for Vancouver. n WAR IN BRIEF Republican A. P. Leased Wire Although the conference between representatives of the Bolsheviki government and the central powers was . due to reconvene Friday, no news lias come through indicating whether the meeting took place. Neither has there been any advices as to whether the difficulties in the way of reaching an agreement have beet: surmounted or if concessions by either side making possible further negotiations, are intended. Dissatisfaction with the proposals of the central, powers apparently docs not obtain solely on the side of the Bolsheviki government, but exists among the delegates of the central powers as well. Austria. Bulgaria and Turkey are asserted to have disagreed, the domineering attitude of the Germans at the Brest-Litovsk conference, where they poacd as conquerors, while their allied delegates evinced an eager desire for peace and a disposition to compromise. The attitude of the German socialists against the demands of th cei.irai powers, especially those pro viding ior tne retention of Poland Lithuania, Courtland and other occupied territory, has forced the im- penal chancellor to refer to. the situation before the main commit tee or the reichstag. The chancel lors statement, however, was merely a platitude and gave no inkling as to wnat Oermanys future inten uons in the premises were, and e en icit to the under secretary tor foreign affairs the task of out lining in tho most perfunctory style the trend of the negotiations up to the time that the recess was iah-en at Jrfrest-I.itovsk. "We can cheerfully await the fur- tner course, of this incident. We relv upon our strong position, . our loyal ul" -"i.nuia hiiu our just rignts, was virtually all the chancellor had to say concerning Russia s rejection of me peace proposals. On the. battle, fronts the compara tive calm of the last few da-n con tinues. although the Germans in the Cambrai sector, in local attacks, have uusuea oack rour British advanced posts for short ' distances. The ar- uiiery aueis along the western front in Belgium and France and also in Italy still are going on, but the iniantry is virtually idle, except for puioi engagements. Again- there has been considerable fighting in the air on the western ironc. i ne uerman war office as serts that the German aviators dur nig me week nave accounted for twenty-three allied airplanes and two captive balloons. French avi ators nave brought down' eight Ger. man machines also carried out bomb- " opeinuons oenina the enemy line. ine American army in France is to be reinforced by the American aviators, who became famous a pilots in .trench escadrilles. Thirty two men', mostly members of the Lafayette escadrille, will be the first to be sworn into the American army. otners will join them as rapidly a possioie. ine transfer or the avi ators from the French to the Ameri can colors was brought about through negotiations between the French and American authorities. Good Morning HAVE YOU MAILED THAT $5.75? Offer Closes Today! $5 Hp The Arizona Re J publican for One YearDaily and Sunday Seven Days a Week The Republican is the only newspaper in Arizona publishing seven days in the week 62 issues mora than any other paper in the state. You are entitled to the best. Mail that $5.75 to the Republican today offer good only once each year. Seventh Annual Bargain Closes Tonight Republican A. P. Leased Wire WASHINGTON. Jan. 4. Plans for a two billion dollar government shipbuilding program were revealed today when the shipping board asked congress for authority to place $701,000,000 worth of additional ship contracts At the same time an immediate appropriation of $32,000,000 was asked for the extension of ship yards and for providing housing facilities for workmen. Thus far the board has been authorized to spend for shipbuilding $1,234,000,000. contracts for most of which have been awarded Today's request for a further authorization and addition appropriation brings the estimates of funds needed for shipbuilding to $2,018,000,000. If the additional funds are made available, they will be put largely into fabricated steel ship contracts, although some contracts for ordi-. nary steel ships will be let as will a few for wooden ships on the Pacific coast. No new shipyards are planned by the board. The fabricating yards have contracts for about 500 ships now, which will keep them constantly employed into 1919, but the board is anxious to place more contracts and begin on the task of providing materials The board's housing plans call for the expenditure of about $35,-000,000. The remainder of the $82,-000,000 asked will be used to expand shipyards already built. The senate commerce committee in vestigating the progress of shipbuilding, took up today alleged high profits allowed in lettrng contracts, wooden ship construction, and the subject of housing. Questioning of Theodore K. t orris, chief constvuetor for the emergency fleet corporation, in connection with a report by the corporation's district officer at Seattle, brought out that the Clinchfield Navigation company of New York, was alleged to have obtained profits amounting to $743,000 on ship contracts when in fact the company was not an actual builder of ships. The company, it was testified, sold to the government at a profit of $420,000, four ships which the Sloan Shipbuilding Corporation of Seattle, waa building for it, and that it .unjcived commission of $323,000 on contracts it obtained from the fleet corporation for twelve ships which the Sloan Corporation now is building Mr. Ferns denied that he bad any thing to do with the contracts but said he introduced officers of the Clinch-field company' to Major General George W. Goethals, formerly- general man ager of the fleet corporation. Conditions affecting the construction of wooden ships are outlined by F. A. Brown, general purchasing officer tor the fleet corporation and F. L. Sanford, a member of the Southern Pine Emer gency bureau. Mr. Brown explained the fleet corporation's granting of an increase in lumber prices and said he thought it was fully justified in view of the fact that timber sizes were made larger. He said the sizes were made so large that pine producers could not make deliveries, but that the corporation expected to have delivered from Oregon within sixty days enough fir to furnish the heavier timbers for 200 wooden ships. Delays in pine deliveries were attributed by Mr. Brown to some extent to the fact that builders, anxious to draw on the fleet corporation's advance funds, laid down too many keels Instead of going ahead with the construction of ships already laid down. Their contracts he said, called for the pavment of money advances when keels were laid and many builders took advantage of this to get money quick ly. The fleet corporation, he said, finally was forced to put a stop to the laving of keels. Mr. Sanford contradicted the testi mony of Rear Admiral Bowles of the fleet corporation, who declared that pine producers had fallen down on de liveries. Believe Tucson Murderer Taken In Los Angeles Republican A. P. Leased Wire LOS ANGELES, Cal., Jan. 4. Barney Schiller was arrested in the harbor district here today on telegraphic instructions from Tucsin, Ariz., which stated, according to the police, that he was wanted in connection with a slaying that occurred there December 23 last. Last Man Wanted TUCSON, Jan. 4. Barney alias Blackie Schiller is wanted here by the police for alleged connection with the murder nearly two weeks ago of Charles Loeb, proprietor of a pleasure resort on the outskirts of this city. Robbery is believed to have been the motive. The arrest of Schiller brings into custody the last man wanted for the crime. Butch Sundeen, Joe Pruitt, a chauffeur, and Art Nelson, a policeman, being already in custody. Schiller had been sought all over the southwest. o OVERCOAT SHORTAGE IS ENDED Republican A. P. Leased Wire WASHINGTON, Jan. 4. Overcoat shortages at national guard and national army training camps were reported ended except at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana, by Secretary Baker in a further response today to the senate military committee's resolution urging immediate steps to provide the soldiers with adequate winter clothing. Many of the camps are still short of blouses, which the secretary said were particularly hard to obtain. The report was based upon the war department's latest telegraphic advices from the division commanders. Lmerg ency express shipments and local pur chases have been authorized, and Mr. Baker expressed the belief that by to day "all the men are comfortable." Of a total shortage of 11,500 over coats. Camp Beauregard needed 10,862 A deficiency of about 6S.000 blouses was scattered amonjr thirteen posts, Camp Kearney, Cal., needing 13,80!t. JiJame ior delay in furnishing win ter garments was placed by the secre tary partially upon supply, but largely upon tho transportation situation. Shortages shown in the report included:, Cam;v Jiearney, t'al over coats, none; blouses. 13.S09; Camp Bowie, Texas, overcoats, none; blouses, 3.725; Camp Doniphan , Oklahoma, overcoats, 2; blouses, none; Camp runston, Kansas, overcoats, none; mouses, ;i.600. Bedding supplies were said to be adequate at all camps. 10 meet the overcoat shortage at Camp Beauregard, Secretary Baker said 22,300 had been expressed Decern ber 26. He told also of a recent shipment of 10,000 blouses to Camp Funs- ton. "Instructions have been sent to all to obtain locally and immediately said the report, "jjiy uniform garment which is short, in order to give each man one whole uniform: to use sizes on hand to exchange with other camps if practicable, and to employ garment makers to alter garments so as to fit those without necessary uniforms. Minor shortages of breeches and underwear at some camps were re ported and with the information that camp commanders have been author ized to secure garments from local markets. The shortage of blouses at Camp Kearney was said not to be serious, because of mild climate. Secretary Baker's report reached the committee at the close of another day's investigation of the army clothing situation, marked by introduction of bills in both senate and house for es tablishment of a new department of munitions with a cabinet head to cen tralize all government war supply op erations. , Woolen manufacturers and Colonel timer Lindsley, inspector and pur cnasmg nead or tne quartermaster' depot at Philadelphia gave testimony criticizing the quality of army clothing made under the new specifications of the supplies committee of the council of national defense providing for use of shoddy. They agreed that stand ards were lowered and garments and blankets of less durability and warmth produced. A bill introduced today by Senator McKellar of Tennessee, as a result of the committee's investigation of the system of army supply purchasing, would abolish the advisory committees of the council of national defense and prohibit civilians from serving the government under the existing practice of $1 a year. The bill would amend the law creating the council and permit the president to appoint one advisory commission of seven members to serve without compensation. o 1 "Victory Bun" Is Invention Of Baker Of Miami, Arizona - Republican A. P. Leased Wire SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 4. The "victory bun" which is made without sugar, requires but a small percentage of vegetable oil and which can be sold by bakers at a profit of one cent each, is the latest medium for conserving food to receive the consideration of the federal food commissioner for California. The inventor of the "victory bun" is William E. Doty, a baker of Miami, Ariz., who conducted his "victory bun' experiments under the auspices of the Raisin Growers' association of this state. The "victory bun," according to the formula submitted by Doty to the food commissioners' office is as follows: Two pounds of water, one ounce of salt, two pounds of wheat flour, 12 ounces of rye flour, four ounces of rice flour, two and one-half ounces of yeast, one and one-half pounds of seeded raisins, one ounce of vegetable oil and one half teaspoon of cinnamon. This recipe, according to Doty, will make sixty buns, the natural sugar of the raisins furnishing the desired awtTAS. - PRESIDENT ASKS CONGRESS TO CLEAR WAY FOR FEDERAL OPERATION OF RAILROADS THE BILL The railroad bill is entitled "A bill to provide for operation of transportation systems while under federal control for the just compensation of their owners and for other purposes." Section one provides that the president is authorized- to agree with and guarantee to the roads that during the federal control they shall receive as compensation an income at an annual rate equivalent as nearly as may. be to provides that the net railway operating June 30. 1917. This the bill officially calls the standard return. This section provides that the net railway operatink ncome is to be computed from returns to the interstate commerce commis- ion, excluding debits and credits, ar riving irom tne accounts which are called in the monthly interstate com merce returns, "leased road rents and miscellaneous rents, No federal taxes in excess of taxes assessed during the year ending June 30, 1517, are to be charged against the revenue in computing the standard re turns. Any net railway operating income in excess of the standard returns s to be the property of the United States. The amount of the standard return accruing miring the three year period is to be determined by the inter state commerce commission, whose certificate as to the amount is to be taken as final and conclusive for the purpose of the agreement and guar anty. During the federal control "an adequate depreciation and mainten ance of the properties of the roads would be included as a part of the operating expenses or provided through a reserve funds, in accordance with principles and rules which the presi dent will determine. Section two provides that if no such agreement is made with a road, the presiuent may nevertheless pay- or cause to be paid to any railroad while under federal control not exceeding ninety per cent of the standard return. Under this section the legal richta of the railroad for prosecution of its claim. ior ine Daiance Detore the court of claims is provided for, and any amount found due above the amount that has been paid will bear interest at six per cent a year and any excess amount paid by the government will be recov crable by the government with six per cent interest Section three- provides that anv claim ior just compensation which is not ad justed under the terms provided in see tlon one will be submitted to a board of three auditors appointed by the inter state commerce commission whose members and official force will be rli gible for that service without any addi tionai compensation. These auditors will give a full hearing to the road and to the government and will report to uie presiuenftne amount duo the road, A sum not exceeding the amount so reported may be agreed upon by the pigment and tl road. Failing this agreement, either the federal govern ment or tne road may file a petition in tne court or claims for final ascertain ment of the amount' of just compensa tion and in the court of claims m-o ceedings the report of the auditors will be considered prima facie evidence of the fact stated. The lust compensa tion of any federal controlled road not making returns to the I. C. C. will be determined in accordance with these provisions. Section four provides that the return (Continued on Page Two) Republican A. P. Leased Wire WASHINGTON, Jan. 4. Further proof of the sweeping character of the powers vested in the commanders in chief of the American naval and military forces in Europe has been disclosed in connection with the return to this country for duty of Rear Admiral William B. Fletcher, former head of the naval department in French waters, and Major General imam L. Sibert who commanded the first American troops sent to France. Confirmation was given today to reports that Admiral Fletcher had been replaced by Rear Admiral Wilson because Vice Admiral Sims felt that the latter officer was better fitted for the particular duties imposed by the posL Similarly, it is understood although 11 I POWERS DF SWEEPING CHARACTEI) there was no formal announcement!. ;' 1 . NhlvJ; .rtm,t. that the re-tre onlss some gross miscarriage of r-f 0.., . h to General Pershing's conclusion Xhat the arduous task of training a division in France could be performed better by another officer. The fact that Admiral Fletcher's re iiiiii ui UKitpiai uiirei, ,,. turn to await assignment to duty. probably as commandant of an important navy yard, coincided with publication of reports that investigation of the loss of the American army transport Antilles, with 67 lives, fore shadowed a naval shake-up, led to the direct conclusion of these two inci dents. It was explained officially to-Hav however, that the decision to re place Fletcher had been made by Admiral Sims prior to the sinking; of the transport. . The question reviewed by Admiral Pirns in reaching his decision, it is understood, had to do with the use made of the limited number of destroyers or other craft assigned to convoy work. The number has been greatly increased recently. Both the war and navy departments face the necessity of framing a policy to be followed with relation to publication of tho names of officers who m.av be relieved from responsible posts for' the good of the service. The ques- (Republican Associated WASHINGTON. Jan. 4. government's operation of railroads and to guarantee the carriers' compensation on the basis of their overage operating income for the last three years was asked of congress oday by President Wilson in in joint session. Bills , embodying his recommendations and carrying an appropriation of half a billion dollars as a "revolving WAva iwvaAflltA imMO4ntAlir o otaKf tt11 1UUU BW5 UiWUUUbCU I III 1 1 1 lAActb vlj OUU Ml O-tliCUlJJl; Will be made to rush them to prompt passage. wnile tne president s address met with general ap proval among democrats and is expected to develop over a tion bill that federal control indefinitely or until congress details of the compensation Director General McAdoo spent the i day planning a solution of labor ques- I tions with the heads of the four railroad brotherhoods and finally decided to refer the brotherhoods pending de mand for a general wage increase to an advisory board of four members to be anointed by him in a few days. This board will investigate all phases of the brotherhoods' demands, and recommend a course to Mr. McAdoo. His decision will be effective as to wages from Jan- nary 1. The plan will affect immediately only the wage requests of the brotherhoods. but demands which may be made later by other classes of organized labor probably will be handled in the same way, Mr. McAdoo reserving the right to make whatever decision he chooses without regard to recommendations of the advisors. Some Increases, both to the brother hoods and to other railway labor, are generally considered certain. The director general, in a statement tonight. promised every, employe that "his rights and interests will be justly dealt with,'' and appealed for a hearty spirit of enthusiasm and co-operation from every man. Special orders were issued providing that 500 additional cars shall' be fur nished daily to certain specified bitum inous and anthracite mines, mainly in Pennsylvania, fc supplying New England. --. . - These, problems ; forced . Mr. McAdoo to postpone until tomorrow action on eastern passenger, schedules, but he is expected to issue orders then for aban donment of a number of trains and elimination of parlor and sleeping cars to a great extent. r ' ' Mr. McAdoo explained today that al though 'no general provision can 'be made under the law for exempting rail road employes- from, the draft, he-will not hesitate to appeal to local exemp tion boards to defer the calling of these workers if the boards-of their volition do not display a tendency to regard the railroads as an essential industry from which employes should not be taken for military service. - In his address to congress. President W ilson, announcing his action in tak ing over the railroads, praised the way in wnicn railroad executives went to work in an attempt to unify their lines under private management,, but said the war emergency demanded govern ment action because only under gov ernment administration could absolutely unrestricted and unembarrassed common use be made of all lines and facilities. He promised that "the com mon administration would be carried tion is said to be a delicate one be cause the officers involved may hav proved unsatisfactory only for a very special and limited class of duties. In such cases officials feel that it hardly fair to announce that thev have been removed for inefficiency, as it mignt serve to blight their careers. It Is indicated, however, that where there Is direct evidence of culpability there will be no hesitation in publish ing names and such circumstances as military considerations will permit. There is no case before either de partment that warrants such action, is said, so far as officers of any im portant rank are concerned. The decisions of -the commanders abroad on all questions of the sending home of officers under their command justice or misuse of . power is dis justice or misuse of closed. Ice Breaking Tugs Clear The Way For Coal To New York Republican A. P. Leased Wire NEW YORK, Jan. 4. Preceded by powerful railroad tugs acting as ice breakers, a fleet of ocean going barges was on its way to New York from New Jersey tidewater! points tonight with 60,000 tons of coal. It waa expected half this supply would be unloaded before morning. If the barges arrive without mishap they will be just in time to prevent the closing; for lack of fuel of many large office buildings, hotels and apartment houses. Despite concentrated efforts to relieve the situation, the city today experienced its worst distress since the extreme cold weather began a week ago.- The Union Trust company and the New York Life buildings closed today, and lacking; fresh supplies ot fuel. Reeve Schley, county fuel admin Press Leased Wire) Legislation to regulate the an address to both houses republicans alike, opposition provision in the administra shall continue after the wan orders otherwise and over basis. out with as little disturbance of the present operating organization and per sonnel or tne railways as possible. And repeated the assurance given in his proclamation last week that owners of railroad securities should not suffer financial loss because of the new plan of operation. The president's address follows In full: Gentlemen of the congress. "I have asked the nrivilrr nf oH dressing you in order to report that on. the 28th of December last, during tho recess of congress, acting through the secretary of war and under the author ity conierred upon me by the act of congress approved August 29, 1316, I took possession and assumed rontrol of the railway lines of the country and ieins oi water transportation under their control.- This step seemed, to be imperatively necessary in the interest Of : the public welfare, in the yrraence ot tne great tasks of war with which we 'are now dealing. As our experience develops difficulties and -makes 'it clear what they are, I have deemed it my duty to remove those difficulties wherever I have the legal power to do so. To assume contra! of the vast railway systems of the country, I realize is a very heavy responsibility, but to fail to do so in the existing' ciroums"tances would have been, a much greater. I assumed the less responsibility rather than the weightier. 1 am-sure that I am speaking the. mind of all thoughtful Americans when I say that it is our duty as the representatives of the nation to do everything that, it is necessarv to da to 'securle their complete mobilization ot tne wnoie resources of America by as rapid and effective a means as can oe iouno. .transportation supplies all the arteries of mobilization. Unless it be under a single and unified direction. me noie process oi tne nation s action is embarrassed. ."It was in the true snirit of AmenVa and it was right that we should first try to effect the necessary unification under the voluntary action of those who were in charge of the great railway properties, and we did try it The directors of the railroads responded to ine need promptly and generously. The group of railway executives who were charged with the task of actual coordination and general direction performed their task with patriotic zeal and marked ability, as was to have been expected and did, I believe, everything that it was possible for them to do in the circumstances. If I nave taken the task out of their hands, it has not been because of anv din.. lection or failure on their part, but only because there were some things which the government can do and tho present management can not. We hhall continue to value most highly the advice and assistance of these gentlemen and I am sure we will not figure them witnnoioing it. "It has become unmistakablv plain that only under government adminis tration can the entire, equipment oj the several sjstcms of transportation be fully and unreservedly thrown into common service without injurious dis. crimination against particular properties. Only under -government administration can an absolute restricted and unembarrassed common use be made of all tracks, terminals, terminal facilities and equipment of every kind. Only under that authority can new terminals be constructed and developed .without regard to the requirements of limitations of particular roads. But under government administration all these things will be possible not instantly, but as fast as practical difficulties, which cannot be merely conjured away, give way before the new management. The common administration will be carried out with as little disturbance of the present operating organizations and personnel of the railways as pos. sible. Nothing will be altered or dis- (Continued on Paee Two) Istrator, said the Western Union, the Empire, the Stewart. New York Sun and Adams Express buildings would close tomorrow. Use of the Pennsylvania tunnel under the Hudson river to hasten coal into the city has aided somewhat in relieving districts in Brooklyn and Long Island, but has not accomplished as much as was expected. Albert H. Wiggin, state fuel administrator, announced tljat the Washington authorities had ordered the New Jersey fuel administrators to lift the embargo placed on ferry buat transportation of coal, but it had not been done at 6 p. m. It was said a misunderstanding of a telegraphic, order frpm Washington, the meaning of which was not clear to the New Jersey officials, had brought a?out the inter - 1 ference with New York coal,,